Pocket ergonomist industrial/retail [104 KB PDF] - Business.govt.nz

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WHAT CAUSES FATIGUE? lf a muscle is kept contracted, or if it contracts repeatedly at high strength, it can become tired or sore. By reducing this tension, by introducing micropauses and by performing workplace exercises to relax and warm up muscles, fatigue can be minimised. This guide describes simple, practical methods that we have used to reduce fatigue, in factories, warehouses and supermarkets. We trust you will find them just as useful as we have. To investigate a report of an ache, soreness or weakness, use this index Neck: Head posture or stress Page 5 Shoulders: Workstation, workstyle or stress Pages 4-5 Forearm and hand (Upper surface): Page 7 (Lower surface): Page 8 Back: Chair work height or posture Page 6 Legs: Loss of circulation Page 6 David Brown and Robin Mitchell 2
THE STRATEGY 1. Educate employees about the role of tension and posture in discomfort. 2. Ask each employee to report any discomfort. The OSH publication Occupational Overuse Syndrome: Checklists for the Evaluation of Work will simplify this enquiry. 3. Use this <strong>Pocket</strong> Ergonomist to find possible causes and remedies. Keep trying until the operator reports feeling better. A Muscle Biofeedback Monitor electromyograph helps to prioritise the causes of each person’s discomfort. If one is not available, work through the list and correct all errors found. 4. Introduce natural relaxation pauses (micropauses) to interrupt tension. For example, relax one hand, even for a moment, if only the other is needed. 5. Rotate employees among tasks where possible, if this varies the muscle load. Take care! Rotation can have social side effects, e.g. it can be seen as punishment ("he took me off my favourite job”), or can separate friends. 6. If stress is a problem, ask employees what causes it. Where possible, change job design (for problems of work rate, perceived lack of control, or stock build-up) or train supervisors (for problems of social stress) to eliminate tension at source. Then establish what the person can do themselves to stop tension getting out of control, and practice the solution with them. 7. Demonstrate exercises and supervise their practice. 8. Now ask the employee to summarise the key points of their new relaxed work methods, and write these down. These key points should be succinct, for example "drop shoulders; relax hands in lap when waiting”. 9. Check again within two weeks. If the employee does not report a substantial improvement, call your occupational health and safety co-ordinator. Very important: you (the investigator) should relax too. 3
Page 1: The Pocket Ergonomist INDUSTRIAL /
Page 5 and 6: CAUSE OF TENSION ACTION 3. Outer sh
Page 7 and 8: FOREARM AND HAND (UPPER SURFACE) 11

Pocket ergonomist industrial/retail [104 KB PDF] - Business.govt.nz

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